Providence Foundation endorses I-195 site for proposed PawSox stadium

PROVIDENCE – The Providence Foundation’s executive committee and board of trustees have voted to endorse the proposed Interstate 195 parcel for a new Pawtucket Red Sox baseball stadium.

The nonprofit foundation also is encouraging city and state officials and I-195 commissioners to negotiate a financial partnership with PawSox owners that is fair to all parties and fulfills public objectives, particularly pertaining to a riverwalk.

The foundation’s recommendation to pursue the I-195 site also is based on its accessibility to downtown’s transit service, restaurants, retail, hotels, parking, offices and residents.

“These characteristics have proven to be important in the success of Triple A stadiums,” the foundation stated in a news release, adding “the highly successful franchise and the quality sponsorship of the team” also are pluses.

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During its review, the foundation looked at eight downtown ballparks as well as the potential for growth in the I-195 area. It found that in all cases, downtown stadium facilities have been major factors in helping to generate real estate development and economic development, as well as job growth in the area around them. The stadiums also were credited for increasing restaurant and retail sales in those areas.

“The facilities have assisted the tourism and convention business and, in some cases, are selling points in the attraction of new companies into the respective cities,” according to the news release.

The foundation also noted the potential for development around the proposed stadium site, as the remaining I-195 land can accommodate more than 5,000,000 square feet of new buildings. It studied parking, concluding that because most of the demand would be at night or on the weekend, downtown parking could be utilized for the 2,430 cars expected.
“In total, there could be 20,000 parking spaces within an 11-minute walk of the stadium, well exceeding the demand,” the report said.
The foundation also said that the stadium site, if properly planned, could benefit the downtown parks system.

“The preliminary plans have many positives such as three acres of park land; the extension of the all-important riverwalk and park/pedestrian connections from Dyer Street to the river. The stadium can be an attraction/activity generator along the river; this type of attraction is needed – there are too few reasons to visit the riverfront. Finally, it is hoped that the stadium operators would be responsible for maintenance and programming the open space. Currently, the public budgets for needed repairs, maintenance and programming of both existing and planned parks are inadequate. New funds need to be found for the new I-195 parks,” the report states.

New owners, including Boston Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino, took over the PawSox in February, announcing plans to move the AAA baseball team from McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket to the I-195 land. The ownership said this week that it remains focused on bringing the team downtown, and finalizing a deal next month.

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1 COMMENT

  1. If any other business asked for free land to build their offices, no real estate taxes to be due, AND the city to pay them rent to be there it would laughed at, and rightfully so. Because it is the Pawsox some people lose perspective. No deal is better than a bad deal so before anyone “endorses” a project they should know what the heck they are endorsing.